She was a tower of strength to most of the charitable institutions in the city, a terror to the professional pauper, but a real friend to the deserving.

Her time was much occupied with committees, secretarial duties, district visiting, workhouse inspection and other public interests.

She was apt indeed to have more than her share of civic business; her reputation for absolute reliability caused people to get into the habit of saying "Oh, go to Miss Beach!" on every occasion, and as she invariably proved the willing horse, she justified the proverb and received the work in increased proportions.
Like most people, Aunt Harriet had her faults.

She was apt to be a trifle overbearing and domineering, she lacked patience with others' weaknesses, and was too doctrinaire in her views.

She tried very hard to push the world along, but she forgot sometimes that "the mills of God grind slowly," and that it is only after much waiting and many days that the bread cast upon the waters returns to us.